What is the maximum resolution for third-party video cameras?
Third-party video cameras support a variety of resolutions for different user needs. The resolution of the video playback depends on factors like the source of the video, the method of playback, and both camera and customer account settings.
To playback footage in its full resolution without zooming in, use a TV or monitor with the same resolution or higher than the camera’s configuration.
Maximum recorded resolution
Third-party cameras must be connected to an Alarm.com CSVR to communicate with Alarm.com. The 20XXP series CSVRs can accommodate up to 100Mbps, and the ADC-SVR210 and 21XXP series CSVRs accommodate up to 70mbps, across all video cameras associated to the device.
While the CSVR will record and maintain footage according to the camera’s stream settings, the resolution of video playback may be limited based on the viewing device.
Note: If the live view or playback maximum resolution exceeds the camera’s maximum resolution, the maximum resolution of the camera applies.
Calculating video system bandwidth, rather than enforcing a uniform maximum across all cameras, provides the flexibility necessary to build the video system best tailored to your customer needs.
Third-party camera storage and bitrate calculator
The Third-party camera storage and bitrate calculator can be used to generate an estimated cumulative bitrate across all cameras connected to the CSVR. Video recorded to the CSVR will be recorded according to the camera’s stream settings.
Camera systems exceeding the maximum Mbps may degrade video quality, cause video lag, or have missing segments of video footage.
Calculator overview
Step-by-step instructions
- Using the Hard drive size dropdown menu, select the desired CSVR storage in Terabytes.
- In Camera Profiles, click Add to create a new camera profile. Camera profiles are groups of cameras that have the same configurations. Click Delete to remove the selected camera profile.
- In Configure profile, configure the following:
- Using the Number of cameras dropdown menu, select the desired number of cameras in the profile (i.e., the number of cameras that share the same configuration).
- Click the Bitrate toggle switch to alternate between calculating the bitrate and entering bitrate manually:
- If calculating the bitrate:
- Using the Stream 1 dropdown menus, select the camera's higher resolution and frame rate.
- Using the Stream 2 dropdown menus, select the camera's lower resolution and frame rate.
- Use the Activity level slider to adjust the estimated amount of motion the camera is likely to view.
- Using the Activity level dropdown menu, select the number of hours that the motion is expected to last every day.
- Using the Stream 1 dropdown menus, select the camera's higher resolution and frame rate.
- If entering the bitrate manually:
- In Stream 1 (Mbps), enter the camera's higher bitrate stream.
- In Stream 2 (Mbps), enter the camera's lower bitrate stream.
- Using the Number of cameras dropdown menu, select the desired number of cameras in the profile (i.e., the number of cameras that share the same configuration).
- Click Export CSV to export the results to a .csv file.
Example configurations
Simple
A simple configuration is one where all of the cameras have the same configuration. Consider a camera system that consists of only exterior cameras that all record at the same resolution.
The simple configuration only needs a single camera profile because all of the cameras have the same settings. Simply select the total number of cameras, and input the appropriate recording settings to get an estimate.
Advanced
An advanced configuration is one where the cameras may not all share the same settings.
Consider a camera system where there is a mix of outdoor and indoor cameras with one pointed at a cash register. The camera pointed at the cash register records at a higher resolution and frame rate than the other indoor cameras, and the outdoor cameras have the highest resolution.
In this advanced configuration, you need three camera profiles to get an effective calculation.
- One profile for the outdoor cameras
- One profile for the indoor cameras
- One profile for the indoor camera pointed at the cash register
Bitrate calculator
Streaming Live Video
Maximum resolutions are inherited from the camera's high stream. For more information, see How does Alarm.com utilize third-party camera streams?.
| Streaming using: | Maximum resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm.com customer website | 8MP (4K/2160p) | - |
| Alarm.com app | 8MP (4K/2160p) | - |
| CSVR local display |
HDMI: 8MP (4K/2160p) |
Matches the continuous recording schedule resolution |
Continuous recording playback
Maximum resolutions are inherited from the camera's high stream. For more information, see How does Alarm.com utilize third-party camera streams?.
| Streaming using: | Maximum resolution | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alarm.com customer website | 8MP (4K/2160p) | - |
| Alarm.com app | 8MP (4K/2160p) | - |
| CSVR local display |
HDMI: 8MP (4K/2160p) |
Matches the continuous recording schedule resolution |
Video exports
Video exported from the Alarm.com customer website or the CSVR's local USB 3.0 port will be in its native resolution.
Example: A third-party camera's configured stream output is set to 4K resolution. As long as a device (computer, media player, etc.) that is capable of 4K resolution is used to view the footage, the 4K resolution footage can be viewed by exporting the footage using the CSVR's local interface.
For information about downloading clips from an SVR using the Alarm.com customer website, see Download clips from an SVR.
For information about exporting video from a CSVR, see Export video using the local interface for 20XXP and 21XXP series CSVRs and Export video using the local interface for the ADC-SVR210.